Q&A: Health care reform for business owners

At a Sept. 17 Affordable Care Act Workshop at the Main Street Oceanside offices, members of the panel listen to a question, LtoR: event facilitator Cecil Goff of Nationwide Insurance, Angela Shrove of Covered California, Elly Garner of Palomar Health (speaking), Arcela Nunez of the National Latino Research Center (partially blocked from view), and Julie Warner of Nationwide Insurance.
— Charlie Neuman

At a Sept. 17 Affordable Care Act Workshop at the Main Street Oceanside offices, members of the panel listen to a question, LtoR: event facilitator Cecil Goff of Nationwide Insurance, Angela Shrove of Covered California, Elly Garner of Palomar Health (speaking), Arcela Nunez of the National Latino Research Center (partially blocked from view), and Julie Warner of Nationwide Insurance.
— Charlie Neuman

Outside the exchange, it’s the inverse: The employer picks an insurer, and the employees each pick the level of service or benefits that they want.

In that sense, the SHOP Exchange offers less flexibility, Hammett says.

Q: Do I need a broker to purchase insurance?

A: No. The Department of Health and Human Services has worked to train thousands of agents and brokers across the country on the Marketplace, but the training is not required. However, agents and brokers seeking to provide assistance in SHOP enrollment must complete a privacy and security agreement, says the Small Business Administration. These same agents may help you shop outside the exchange as well.

They cost employers nothing directly, because their commissions are paid by the insurance providers.

Q: I have a multistate business, so do I have to use a different exchange in each state?

A: No. Small-business employers with locations in more than one state have two options:

Sign up in one SHOP Marketplace. In that case, the employer would look to offer a multistate plan or select a national provider network to cover its employees in different states.

Sign up for separate SHOPs in each state where they have a business location.

Q: I heard that enrollment on the SHOP exchange has been delayed. Does that mean I have to wait?

A: No. Covered California’s web-based SHOP exchange will open Tuesday, as scheduled. Small businesses in states with federally run exchanges may have to do paper enrollments for the first month, but their SHOPs are expected to open on Nov. 1.